“Why Tongues” PDF by Kenneth Hagin - Ekklesia

37 Pages·2006·0.48 MB·English

by  Kenneth Hagin

Copyright © 1975 RHEMA Bible Church

AKA Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Inc.

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Twenty-Eighth Printing 1994

ISBN 0-89276-051-6

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Why

Tongues?

By

KENNETH E. HAGIN

PART I

THE BIBLE WAY TO RECEIVE THE

HOLY SPIRIT

The infilling of the New Testament

believers with the Holy Ghost should be our
pattern today. I propose that we look at the
Acts of the Apostles, see how they did it, and
follow their example in getting people filled
with the Holy Ghost.

In the first chapter of Acts, just before Jesus

ascended on high, we see this great scene:

2 Why Tongues?

ACTS 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with
them, (Jesus) commanded them that they
should not depart from Jerusalem, but
wait for the promise of the Father, which,
saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but
ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost
not many days hence.

And then on the day of Pentecost:

ACTS 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, they were all with one accord in one
place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it
filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each
of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Many years ago as a young denominational

pastor reading the New Testament, the Holy
Spirit enlightened me and I was convinced that
if I received the same Holy Ghost they
received I would have the same initial sign

The Bible Way to Receive the Holy Spirit 3

they had—the Bible evidence—speaking with
tongues. I wasn't satisfied with anything else.
Speaking with tongues is not the Holy Ghost.
And the Holy Ghost is not the speaking with
tongues. But they go hand in hand.

Believers Filled in Samaria

The events in the Book of Acts cover a

number of years. Eight years after the day of
Pentecost we see Philip carrying the gospel to
the people of Samaria:

ACTS 8.5-8; 12
5 Then Philip went down to the city of
Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave
heed unto those things which Philip spake,
hearing and seeing the miracles which he
did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many that were
possessed with them: and many taken
with palsies, and that were lame, were
healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city . . .
12 But when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and

4 Why Tongues?

women.

These scriptures helped me to see that there

is an experience subsequent to salvation called
receiving the Holy Ghost. I had been taught
that when you are saved you have the Holy
Ghost—which is true in a sense. But my
denomination taught you had all the Holy
Ghost there was.

Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and

preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark
16:15-16). These Samaritans believed and
were baptized (Acts 8:12). Were they saved?
According to Jesus they were.

There is a work of the Holy Spirit in the

new birth, but that is not called receiving the
Holy Ghost—that is called being born-again,
receiving Eternal Life. There is an experience
following salvation called receiving, or being
filled with the Holy Ghost.

When the apostles at Jerusalem heard of the

wonderful things God had done through
Philip's ministry in Samaria, they sent Peter
and John to lay hands on the new converts that
they might receive the Holy Ghost.

The Bible Way to Receive the Holy Spirit 5

ACTS 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles which were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto
them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive
the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of
them: only they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them,
and they received the Holy Ghost.

Now some who object to speaking with

tongues argue that the Bible doesn't mention
the Samaritans spoke with tongues when they
received the Holy Ghost. But—it doesn't say
they didn't! Students of church history know
that the early church fathers agree they did
speak with tongues in Samaria. And it also
seems apparent from this passage that they did
speak with tongues for:

ACTS 8:18
18 And when Simon (the sorceror—see
verse 9) saw that through laying on of the
apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given,
he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that

6 Why Tongues?

on whomsover I lay hands, he may receive
the Holy Ghost.

"When Simon saw . . ." the Word says. You

can't see the Holy Ghost. He is a Spirit and
cannot be seen with the physical eye. There
had to be some physical sign whereby Simon
would know they had received the Holy Ghost
—something which would register on Simon's
senses. All evidence indicates the sign
manifested was speaking in tongues.

Believers Filled in Cornelius' Household

About ten years after the day of Pentecost

the Word tells us about Peter's going to
Cornelius' house to carry the gospel.

ACTS 10:44-46
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the
Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard
the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which
believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because that on the Gentiles
also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with
tongues, and magnify God.

The Bible Way to Receive the Holy Spirit 7

Reading the entire account of this we see

how an angel appeared to Cornelius and told
him to send to Joppa, and to inquire in the
house of a certain individual for Simon Peter,
"Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and
all thy house shall be saved." Neither
Cornelius nor his household was saved. They
were Jewish proselytes. A person can't be
saved without hearing the gospel. They didn't
know about Jesus. So Peter preached to them.
They believed while they were standing there
and were born again as Peter preached. Then
they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in
tongues before he finished his message.

Notice that it was the speaking with tongues

which convinced Peter's company that these
Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit. The
Jewish believers were astonished that the Holy
Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles.

Believers Filled in Ephesus

Then 20 years after the day of Pentecost,

Paul journeyed to Ephesus. There he met some
believers and introduced to them the Person of
the Holy Ghost.

8 Why Tongues?

ACTS 19:1-3,6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos
was at Corinth, Paul have passed through
the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and
finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the
Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they
said unto him, We have not so much as
heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then
were ye baptized? And they said, Unto
John's baptism.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon
them, the Holy Ghost came on them and
they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

As we see from the verses above, these

believers at Ephesus had never heard about the
Holy Ghost. But when Paul laid his hands on
them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and
they spoke with tongues. Every one of them—
without waiting, without praising, without
tarrying—was filled with the Holy Ghost and
spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God
gave them utterance.

Paul's Infilling of the Spirit

Paul, who laid hands on these folks, was

previously known as Saul of Tarsus. The

The Bible Way to Receive the Holy Spirit 9

account of his experience of receiving the
Holy Ghost is found in the ninth chapter of
Acts.

ACTS 9:10-12, 17
10 And there was a certain disciple at
Damascus, named Ananias; and to him
said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he
said, Behold I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and
go into the street which is called Straight,
and inquire in the house of Judas for one
called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he
prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named
Ananias coming in, and putting his hand
on him, that he might receive his sight.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered
into the house; and putting his hands on
him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even
Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way
as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou
mightest receive thy sight, and be filled
with the Holy Ghost.

Saul, later to be known as Paul, received the

Holy Ghost immediately. He didn't have to
tarry or wait. He received instantly.

"But it doesn't say he spoke with tongues,"

someone might object. It is true it doesn't say

10 Why Tongues?

it specifically right here. But Paul himself said
that he spoke with tongues. He said, "I thank
my God, I speak with tongues more than ye
all" (I Cor. 14:18). We know he didn't start
talking with tongues before he received the
Holy Ghost. It shouldn't be too difficult to
figure out when he started. He started when he
received the Holy Ghost, just as the rest of us
did, for the tongues go along with it.

Speaking with tongues is an initial

supernatural sign or evidence of the Holy
Spirit's indwelling. It is the beginning of it all.
I have found in my own life that the more I
pray and worship God in tongues, the more
manifestation of other gifts of the Spirit I have.
The less I talk in tongues, the less
manifestation I have. Speaking with tongues is
the door into the rest of the spiritual gifts.

The Bible Way to Receive the Holy Spirit 11

PART II

TEN REASONS WHY EVERY

BELIEVER SHOULD SPEAK IN

TONGUES

"And these signs shall follow them that
believe ... they shall speak with new
tongues" (Mark 16:17).

The apostle Paul wrote much about the

subject of speaking in other tongues. He
apparently practiced what he preached for he
said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues
more than ye all" (I Cor. 14:18). I too, thank
God that I speak in tongues with regularity,
and would wish for every believer this same
blessing and source of power in his everyday
life. The purpose of Part II of this book is to
set forth major reasons why every Christian
should speak in tongues, and to help believers
see the blessings which can be theirs through
appropriating the power of the Holy Spirit
daily.

Reason 1—Tongues the Initial Sign

ACTS 2:4

12 Why Tongues?

4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Word of God teaches that when we are

filled with the Holy Ghost, we speak with
other tongues as the Spirit of God gives
utterance. It is the initial evidence or sign of
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the
first reason people should speak with other
tongues is—this is a supernatural evidence of
the Spirit's indwelling.

In the tenth chapter of Acts we read where

the Jewish brethren who came with Peter to
Cornelius' house were astonished when they
saw that the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured
out on the Gentiles. They thought it was just
for the Jews. How did these Jews know that
Cornelius' household had received the gift of
the Holy Ghost? "For they heard them speak
with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:46).
Speaking in tongues was the supernatural sign
which convinced them the Gentiles had the
same gift as they.

Reason 2—Tongues For Spiritual

Edification

Ten Reasons Why Every Believer Should Speak in

Tongues 13

I CORINTHIANS 14:4
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue
edifieth himself.

In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul

encouraged them to continue the practice of
speaking with other tongues in their worship
of God and in their prayer lives as a means of
spiritual edification. Greek language scholars
tell us that we have a word in our modern
vernacular which is closer to the meaning of
the original than the word "edified." That word
is "charge"—as used in connection with
charging a battery. Therefore we could
paraphrase this verse, "He that speaketh in an
unknown tongue edifies, charges, builds
himself up like a battery." And this wonderful,
supernatural means of spiritual edification—
notice that it is not mental nor physical
edification—is for every one of God's
children.

I CORINTHIANS 14:2
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown
tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto
God: for no man understandeth him; how.
beit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.